Cisco Nexus 2348TQ 10G BASE T Fabric Extender

The Cisco Nexus 2348TQ 10G BASE-T Fabric Extender is a powerful extension of the Cisco Nexus 2300 platform, designed to simplify data center access architectures while delivering scalable, high-performance connectivity. As the successor to the widely adopted Nexus 2000 Series, the Nexus 2348TQ brings enhanced fabric efficiency, centralized management, and seamless integration with Cisco NX-OS to help data centers deploy and operate more predictably. This fabric extender is purpose-built to extend the capabilities of Cisco Nexus switches, enabling consistent policy enforcement, reduced complexity, and streamlined server-to-network connectivity across large-scale environments.

• Scalable 10GBASE-T server connectivity: The Nexus 2348TQ provides abundant copper-based 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports that support flexible server-adapter options, enabling rapid growth from a handful of hosts to dense, high-throughput server farms without replacing core switching fabric.
• Simplified fabric architecture: As a Cisco Nexus 2300 fabric extender, it consolidates management and policy control beneath the parent Nexus switch, eliminating separate control planes and reducing operational overhead while preserving familiar NX-OS behaviors.
• Centralized, policy-driven management: Leverage Cisco NX-OS for consistent configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting, with integration into Cisco DCNM for end-to-end data center automation, provisioning, and lifecycle management.
• Efficient power and placement: Designed to be powered by the parent Nexus switch with no separate, stand-alone power supply requirements, simplifying deployment, cabling, and energy efficiency while reducing space and maintenance needs in dense data center racks.
• High-availability and reliability: Built to support resilient data center operations, the Nexus 2348TQ helps maintain uptime through robust fabric connectivity, streamlined failure containment, and easy recovery workflows within the Cisco Nexus ecosystem.

Technical Details of [Cisco Nexus 2348TQ 10G BASE-T Fabric Extender]

• Form factor: Fabric Extender for Cisco Nexus 2300 platform
• Ports: 48 x 10GBASE-T copper Ethernet interfaces for server connections
• Uplink options: Dedicated uplink connectivity to the parent Nexus switch to extend fabric capabilities
• Management: NX-OS-based management interface with Cisco DCNM integration for centralized operations
• Power: Power sourced from the parent Nexus switch; no separate local power supply required
• Placement: Hot-pluggable form factor suitable for data center rack deployment
• Operating environment: Designed for data center temperature and reliability requirements
• Compatibility: Works in tandem with Cisco Nexus switches and NX-OS feature set for fabric extension and virtualization

how to install [Cisco Nexus 2348TQ 10G BASE-T Fabric Extender]

Installing the Cisco Nexus 2348TQ fabric extender is a straightforward process that centers on extending the Nexus fabric without introducing new management complexity. Follow these high-level steps to ensure a smooth deployment aligned with Cisco best practices:

• Plan your deployment: Verify compatibility with your existing Cisco Nexus switches and NX-OS version. Confirm cabling needs and rack placement to optimize airflow and signal integrity for 10GBASE-T connections.
• Prepare the parent switch: Ensure the Nexus switch that will serve as the fabric parent is configured to support fabric extenders, including any required feature sets, port channels, and policy templates that will govern the FEX behavior.
• Physically connect the FEX: Mount the Nexus 2348TQ in the designated rack space and connect the 10GBASE-T server-facing ports to the appropriate servers or top-of-rack (ToR) devices. Connect the FEX uplink to the parent Nexus switch using the recommended uplink path and cable type per your design.
• Establish fabric control: Power up and verify physical links. Use the Nexus command-line interface to provision the Fabric Extender and bind it to the parent switch—this establishes the control plane and fabric forwarding relationship between the FEX and the Nexus chassis or virtual port-channel (vPC) domain as required by your topology.
• Configure policies and monitoring: Apply consistent QoS, security, and policy templates via NX-OS and, if applicable, DCNM. Enable event logging, SNMP, and NetFlow/IPFIX as needed to support ongoing visibility, alerting, and performance analytics.
• Validate operation: Perform end-to-end testing with sample traffic, verify traffic distribution across 10GBASE-T ports, and confirm that server-facing interfaces are correctly enrolled in port channels or virtual port channels as per your design.
• Document and baseline: Record the final configuration, cabling diagrams, and port mapping. Establish a baseline for performance and availability to facilitate future upgrades and troubleshooting.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Cisco Nexus 2348TQ 10G BASE-T Fabric Extender?
The Nexus 2348TQ is a fabric extender designed for the Cisco Nexus 2300 platform. It extends the Nexus fabric to a large number of servers using 10GBASE-T copper connections, offering centralized management, simplified provisioning, and scalable server connectivity while maintaining the NX-OS policy framework and integration with Cisco DCNM.

Do I need an independent power supply for the 2348TQ?
No. The fabric extender is designed to draw power from the parent Nexus switch, reducing cabling complexity and eliminating the need for a separate power source at the FEX rack unit. This design helps simplify deployment in dense data center environments.

How does a Fabric Extender improve data center operations?
Fabric Extenders streamline data center architectures by centralizing control and policy enforcement at the parent Nexus switch. They reduce management overhead, enable consistent QoS and security policies across servers, and simplify scaling from smaller deployments to large-scale environments while keeping familiar NX-OS commands and workflows.

Can I mix 10GBASE-T with other uplink technologies?
Yes. The Nexus 2300 fabric extender family is designed to work within a fabric that can include various uplink options on the parent switch, depending on the deployment model and the NX-OS features in use. Check your exact topology to ensure policy consistency and traffic forwarding alignment.

What management tools should I use with the 2348TQ?
Leverage Cisco NX-OS for day-to-day configuration and monitoring, and integrate with Cisco DCNM for centralized provisioning, health monitoring, change management, and automation across the data center fabric. These tools provide a cohesive experience with other Cisco Nexus components.